Late access to a phlebologist with a developed varicose vein is the main reason that it is too late to act on the disease with an ointment or gel. The doctor should prescribe more effective treatment, among which the most effective is surgery for varicose veins of the legs.
Remember that even surgical removal of the affected vessel does not guarantee a complete cure - the disease can spread to healthy tissues.
Phlebologist - why contact him
Who should I contact if varicose veins are suspected? You should not wait for the spread of the disease, already the first symptoms should be the main reason to seek medical help. Only a phlebologist can confirm or deny the diagnosis and should be contacted first. Only he, if necessary, can turn to another specialist.
What symptoms should you see a phlebologist immediately? There are not so few of them:
- bright vascular stars that appear on the lower extremities;
- heaviness in the legs, which is usually accompanied by severe swelling;
- convulsions, most often disturbing at night;
- skin tone changes, it becomes darker and more unnatural.
If you do not hurry to the hospital, the disease will begin to develop rapidly, the spider's veins will begin to enlarge and protrude above the skin. The only treatment option in such cases is surgery for varicose veins of the legs, which a phlebologist will prescribe after a thorough examination.
What types of leg surgery can be prescribed by a phlebologist
Surgical treatment may be prescribed depending on the degree of vascular damage. Only a phlebologist can determine which method of getting rid of the disease is needed, but this will require a number of tests.
Types of leg surgery:
- Miniphlebectomy. It is performed with mild vascular lesions. During the operation, the doctor makes punctures to remove the veins. After the procedure, minor defects remain on the lower limbs, which are almost invisible.
- Phlebectomy. The most common, but also the most traumatic skin surgery, which leaves scars. The surgeon makes long incisions to remove the vessels affected by the disease. Rehabilitation is short - the next day the patient can go home.
- Short Abbreviation. Incisions are not made - the surgeon makes several punctures, through which only the diseased part of the vessel is removed.
- Sclerotherapy. A special substance is injected into the affected vessels, which sticks to the destroyed tissues. There is no postoperative period at all - the patient can go home immediately after the procedure.
- Endovenous coagulation. Laser exposure of the affected veins is the safest and fastest method of treatment. Efficacy and painlessness are the main advantages of the treatment.
Surgery for varicose veins of the legs is the most extreme treatment option, although in most cases it proves to be the most effective.
Laser varicose vein surgery
New methods in medicine allow you to get rid of the affected vessels of the lower extremities practically painlessly and with minor injuries. Laser surgery for varicose veins is an excellent alternative to surgical treatment.
When is endovenous coagulation indicated? There are so few reasons for surgery and they all do not respond to topical or pill treatment:
- varicose veins in which large and vital vessels are affected;
- heaviness and swelling in the lower extremities that do not respond to other treatments;
- trophic changes were found on the skin;
- The lower limbs are covered with ulcers that are not affected by topical medications.
How does the operation work? The surgeon makes an incision in front of the affected vessel and inserts a special probe with a laser tip. The laser glues the affected areas of the vessel, after which the next incision is made and the recovery of the veins continues.
Laser processing - what are the advantages of the method over other operations
Despite the significant number of types of varicose vein surgery, it is the laser effect that has gained popularity among patients. A significant role here is assigned to the low cost of the procedure, but more often the victims of the disease are attracted by the lack of pain during the operation and the effectiveness.
Laser treatment has many benefits that also attract patients:
- immediately after the operation you can go home and start your daily activities;
- the procedure is performed under local anesthesia;
- no effects on the skin; The
- procedure takes only a few hours;
- no need for postoperative recovery;
- no risk of bruising or bleeding at all;
- procedure has virtually no contraindications.
Before the operation you will have to undergo special tests that will help determine exactly that there is no other treatment option. An additional examination will also reveal whether there are any contraindications and whether the laser surgery will lead to complications or side effects.
Consequences that may occur after the operation
Even if the operation, despite the chosen method, was successful, there is no guarantee that unpleasant and unexpected consequences will not occur. Most often, especially if surgery is used, scars remain that can last a lifetime. To avoid this, you can find out in advance with your doctor which drugs or folk remedies promote healing and prevent scarring.
Another of the consequences that can occur after surgery is recurrence of the disease. Even if the procedure was successful, doctors cannot guarantee that healthy tissues will not be affected by the disease. Of course, this will not happen immediately, but it is better to carefully monitor the condition of the vessels and at the first signs of damage to consult a doctor immediately.
How to avoid unpleasant consequences, you can ask your doctor immediately after surgery. The phlebologist is obliged not only to tell in detail what measures will serve as prevention, but also to recommend drugs or folk remedies that can be used at home to prevent recurrence.
Rehabilitation - what you need to do to avoid complications after surgery
Only after a few types of surgery may rehabilitation be necessary and this period has its own characteristics. The requirements and rules that the patient must comply with are determined by the specialist separately, on an individual basis.
Medical underwear is most often prescribed during the rehabilitation period, which helps to strengthen the walls of the vessels on which the operation was performed. The class and type of compression stockings is prescribed only by a doctor, this can not be done independently in any case - a mistake in the choice threatens to develop the disease again. The duration of wearing medical underwear is also determined by the phlebologist - for some patients a few weeks are enough, for others with complications they will have to wear a leotard for a longer period.
Another stage of recovery is the adoption of special drugs that restore blood flow to the vessels undergoing surgery. Medicines are prescribed only by a phlebologist and many of the drugs have many contraindications that must be carefully studied before taking.
Surgery for varicose veins in the legs is almost the only way to get rid of a progressive disease. You do not need to be afraid to go to the doctor if the disease develops quickly and inexorably, affecting healthy tissues - if you do not stop the disease immediately, even surgery can be powerless.